amesmonde
On a Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow an American couple get caught up in a conspiracy of deception and murder when they encounter a mysterious pair of fellow travellers.With a handful of main characters director Brad Anderson offers an American fish out of water thriller with a meandering off beat story by Will Conroy which helps build the tension, especially cultural throughout. There are some shootings, attempted rape and torture, in addition for a low key drug smuggling yarn there are stunts and an impressive train crash. Woody Harrelson interestingly plays against wacky type cast as an everyday nice guy husband of Jessie (Emily Mortimer). Mortimer gives a convincing performance and has some depth which helps sell the situations she finds herself in after befriending drug traffickers Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) and Abby (Kate Mara).Ben Kingsley is fitting as Grinko, a snooping Russian narcotics officer. Notable is Thomas Kretschmann as Kolzak Yushenkov, Grinko's right-hand man. And Noriega's dodgy Carlos is particularly convincing. While Mortimer steals the show, Mara also well cast as the lead astray out of her depth partner of Carlos. There's plenty of double cross and simmering character dynamics, imposing quiet Grinko befriending the couple to solve his smuggling case. Abby and Jessie's rivalry and Carlos' sexual tension with Jessie to name a few. The atmosphere is reminiscent of Citizen X (1995) with its snowy cold on location feel. Anderson creates some grounded fear and suspense as Jessie is put through the mill in this traditional taut thriller with a few twists. Recommend sleeper thriller.
vandelour
Not much of a movie. After the first five minutes almost right up to the end its deathly dull with Woody hideously miscast as a mid-western hardware store owner. As a traveling couple on a train in a foreign country, Woody and his sourpuss wife make ya want to move to the other end of the car. The bad guys might as well have big signs around their necks saying 'Look no farther, its ME'. Ben Kingsley is good but he's always good. Too bad he's missing in action for most of the film. The plot is contrived with an overload of 'tense' moments. Mercifully, the movie ends. If you like nice scenery and trains, go for it. If you like to have at least some challenge as a viewer, skip it. And if you didn't know it before, Siberia can be cold and often has snow. The movie goes to great lengths to point that out.
Tauren Humnus
Stereotypical, "Russia - bad; USA - good" rubbish. I hated the female main character more than any other written character EVER. (This includes King Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones!). She literally gets away with murder and convinces herself and everyone around her that she is a victim. The end shows the main character telling her murder victim's girlfriend where his body is so she can collect a shitload of cash. This same girl was tortured and beaten because of that main character but hey, water under the bridge. PATHETIC excuse for a film. The entire second half of the film I found myself anticipating the moment that bitch would get a bullet in her face. Alas, that moment never came. Disappointed to say the least!
punishmentpark
An international cast and a beautiful and stylish first hour... we're off to more than a good start. Unfortunately things are quite predictable at times and the eventual conclusion, when the train is brought to the desolate area, made me wonder if Carlos' steps hadn't been easier to trace, and much earlier on as well? Or was it necessary to get that torture scene in there? Also, the use of semi-profound one-liners was working counterproductive. Again, a bit of a disappointment by Brad 'The Machinist' Anderson, even if that first hour is very much okay. An extra kudos to Emily Mortimer; well played and wonderful charisma.6 out of 10.
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